Accessible Voting

As a voter with a disability, you can request a reasonable accommodation or assistance to vote. Cowlitz County Elections is committed to ensuring accessibility at voting centers, and that you have the opportunity to vote privately and independently. We are here to help!

The technology exists today to provide voters with disabilities an accessible unit that allows them to vote confidently, independently, and privately. Each voting center is equipped with at least one Accessible Voting Unit (AVU), available 18 days before Election Day, until 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Location:

Cowlitz County Auditor's Office

Visit your Voter Portal for more information on voting centers in your county.

Accessible Voters' Pamphlet

Accessible formats of the voters' pamphlet are available online. If you wish to join the subscription list to receive a copy on CD or USB drive of the Voters' Pamphlet, please contact the voter hotline at (800) 448-4881 or email voterspamphlet@sos.wa.gov. Provide your preferred format, name, telephone number, and mailing address.

Accessible voting units

Accessible Voting Units (AVUs) are available for voters who want assistance in filling out a paper ballot.

· AVUs can display larger type or can provide an audio ballot for persons with visual or cognitive disabilities.

· Voters can cast their ballot by using the select wheel or tactile button options.

· The equipment also supports a limited number of assistive switches, like foot pedals, lap paddles, or a sip and puff. · The machine prints out a scannable, marked ballot which the voter can review. The ballot is then placed in an envelope and dropped into a ballot box with other ballots.

The ballots are then verified and processed in the Elections Office, just like every other ballot that is returned.

Identification required

Voters casting a ballot at an accessible voting center must either show a photo ID or sign a declaration. The signature on the declaration must match the signature in the voter registration record. (RCW 29A.40.160)

Assistance voting your ballot

Anyone may assist you in voting your ballot, except your employer or union representative. At a voting center, you may ask for two election workers - one from each political party - to help you fill out your ballot.

A person who has a guardian may still be able to vote and should not be turned away from a voting center by an election worker. Guardianship papers indicate if an individual has a right to vote. If there is ever doubt about a person's voting status, the person should be issued a provisional ballot to vote with.